Used car guide

2009 Ford S-MAX: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2009 Ford S-MAXs, from 4,882 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,882MOT tests in 2025
56%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%)
8,600typical miles a year
3.8×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2009 Ford S-MAXs than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Suspension arm3.8× usual
    Ford S-MAX
    14.9% All 2009 cars
    3.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 0.4% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Brake pads2.1× usual
    Ford S-MAX
    17.9% All 2009 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 2.1% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.6× usual
    Ford S-MAX
    18.1% All 2009 cars
    11.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, against 2.3% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Link ball joint covers2.5× usual
    Ford S-MAX
    7.8% All 2009 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 1.8% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Brake lights1.9× usual
    Ford S-MAX
    10% All 2009 cars
    5.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.1%, against 4.3% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.9% here, against 7.5% of all 2009 cars. Drive shaft (CV) joints: 1.5% here, against 5.3% of all 2009 cars.

By area

The share of 2009 Ford S-MAX MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    58% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    42% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    39% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    35% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    18% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    14% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Ford S-MAX?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022751Tyres 26%
2021710Tyres 31%
20201,144Tyres 31%
20192,298Tyres 34%
20182,392Tyres 35%
20175,246Tyres 35%
20166,850Tyres 37%
20153,273Tyres 41%
20146,290Tyres 40%
20136,010Suspension 45%
20126,641Suspension 49%
20115,991Suspension 50%
20107,831Suspension 54%
20083,545Suspension 63%
20073,293Suspension 64%
2006937Suspension 64%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2009 Ford S-MAXs registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score